Continuing our theme of posting short videos to make up for the fact that you won’t be able to visit for quite a while yet, we hope that this little clip of Sue’s sailing boat on the pond might make your lockdown a little easier.

The boat is quite amazing in it’s ability to keep itself going. Once launched I had no hand in it’s movement at all – there’s a short bit removed when it was stuck for a few moments, but even then it freed itself and set off on another journey round it’s own little ocean.

Turn the sound up to enjoy the silence and birdsong – no traffic, no planes. Let us know if you can identify the birds – we are hopeless at it!

The water is crystal clear as the marginal planting does its clever job, allowing us to see loads of tadpoles, newts, great diving beetles, dragonfly larvae and others.

As well as, hopefully, giving you some enjoyment, the other reason for these posts is to ask you to help the National Garden Scheme (for whom we would have been opening for the 15th year at the end of the month) to make up the massive expected shortfall in the funds which they are usually able to give to a raft of really deserving – especially at this time – health and nursing charities.

The NGS is the biggest single contributor to both Macmillan Cancer Support and Marie Curie, usually donating around £500,000 to each every year. Other major beneficiaries include the Carers Trust, The Queen’s Nursing Institute and Hospice UK. At present a shortfall of around 80% is forecast with gardens being unable to open.

Instead of visiting us you can simply click here or scan the code below and make a much needed donation directly to the National Garden Scheme. Please be generous at this time.

We were due to hold one of Sue’s “excellent” (participant’s quote, not ours!) Compost Making workshops at the beginning of June, but that isn’t now going to happen due to the virus.

So we’ve made this short video to whet your appetite for some date in the future.

This is just a very quick run through of the why’s and wherefore’s of making a really wonderful compost which you can use in so many ways around the garden.

As we are also not going to be able to open for the National Garden Scheme as planned at the end of May, we are looking for ways of replacing the £1000+ that we are normally able to pass to the scheme to support such a wonderful set of health and nursing charities.

So, if you like this video, find it useful or are just wanting a way to support the NGS charities, we have set up a JustGiving page where all donations will go directly to the NGS to help make up the expected 80% shortfall in funds this year.

Please just click here (or use the QR code below) and give what you can to support health workers at Macmillan, Marie Curie, Queen’s Nursing Institute and others. It is so important at this time.

2020 garden openings

Latest News: Due to the uncertainty surrounding the possible course of the COVID-19 virus and personal health issues, we are currently not intending to open in 2020, nor will any of the proposed workshops take place this year.

We look forward to welcoming you to Nantybedd Garden in 2021

As previous years we will be open from Friday 3rd July until Sunday 27th September on Friday, Saturday and Sunday afternoons from 2pm until 6pm. We will also be open on Bank Holiday afternoons.

Please remember that we will also open ‘By Appointment’ at other times, but we do require you to contact us in advance. Discounts do not apply to these openings.

For more details see the Visit our garden section of this site.

Newsletter – Sign up now

We’re now offering a two-monthly newsletter sent to your e-mail inbox. This will give details of ‘pop-up’ openings, for example in the Spring for daffs and bluebells.

If you’d like to be on the list and ‘in the know’ send us your e-mail details to garden@nantybedd.com.

We promise not to use your info for anything but the newsletter.

Eco-Opening

We do also open occasionally for the Monmouthshire Eco-Open Doors programme. If you are interested in any of our various eco-features (hydro, woodburners, organic growing, natural swimming pond etc.) give us a call to arrange a visit.

Courses and Groups

If you would like to attend a course (see Courses and Events), bring a group to Nant-y-Bedd or even run your own course in our 6.5 acres of garden, woodland and river, just drop us an e-mail - address below - and we can discuss your needs.

We have had a 52 seat coach get here without any problem, so don't be concerned about narrow roads if thinking of a group visit

Sue gives talks to Garden Clubs, U3A, WI and similar organisations. As above, drop us an e-mail.

How to find us

Before you start, use your Sat Nav if you must, but be prepared to be sent in all sorts of odd directions. Much better to follow the directions below.

Nant y Bedd is found 4.5 miles up the road towards the Grwyne Fawr Reservoir, in the area known as Fforest Coal Pit, Abergavenny.

We are about equi-distant from Abergavenny and Crickhowell, around 10 miles. From ABERGAVENNY take the A465 Abergavenny to Hereford road and turn off at LLANFIHANGEL CRUCORNEY.

Coming from HEREFORD direction turn off the A465 at LLANFIHANGEL CRUCORNEY.

By the Skirrid Inn (in Llanfihangel Crucorney) turn down the hill (following signs for Llanthony), bear left at the bottom of the hill and continue for about a mile, passing under a railway bridge. Turn left at the signpost for Llanbedr, Patrishow and Fforest Coal Pit.

After a mile and a half you will arrive at Five Ways junction. Take the road to the Grwyne Fawr reservoir, passing the grey telephone box and over a river bridge.

From CRICKHOWELL take the turning by the Fire Station towards Llanbedr. Follow signs to Fforest Coal Pit (sometimes just Fforest) until you reach a house in the 'middle of the road'. Bear left down the hill and you will arrive at Five Ways junction. Take the road to the Grwyne Fawr reservoir, passing the grey telephone box.

The post code for sat-navvers (if you insist!) is NP7 7LY, but when the voice tells you that you've arrived, you will probably be opposite a house called Ty Hir. Keep going for another half mile and you will come to Nant y Bedd.

It really is only 4.5 miles from the grey telephone box, but if you don't know the road it will seem further - don't give up!! Keep an eye open for the small "this way" signs at junctions.

The house is on the left hand side of the road and there are large sheds on the right hand side. There's also a small red Post Box just by the front gate.

For NGS Open Garden Days parking is usually in one of the forest roads just before the house and will be signposted. On other days please park alongside the tin roofed shed on the righthand side of the road.

For fellow aficionados of OS Maps, the grid reference is
SO 25705 26869

IMPORTANT: We have discovered that Google Maps has decided that one of the roads mentioned above doesn't exist!! To avoid a number of very narrow lanes coming out of Abergavenny, please do not rely on Google Maps directions, but stick to what is written above, via Llanfihangel Crucorney.